Frida Kahlo Inspires Mexican Designer Rolando Santana’s Collection

Mexican designer Rolando Santana used the runways at New York Fashion Week to create an ode to femininity, unveiling a colorful collection inspired by iconic artist Frida Kahlo.

“Frida Kahlo is not just about flowers and braids. She was a strong woman who lived a pretty stormy life, but at the end of the day she was a very feminine woman, very cultured. These are pretty strong pieces that have the essence of who she was, not reproductions of the clothing she wore,” Santana said.

This is the first time that Santana incorporates color and flower patterns in his work, such as bright yellow and lilac dresses.

“It was a challenge I made myself. I have never worked with colors or flower patterns, and I was looking to make a connection. I had an interest in doing it. I started to read about Frida, which was the perfect connection for getting out the message that she carried in her life, about the interesting things she lived through, the times she lived in, and the clothing reflects her,” the designer said.

The collection, which has a look straight out of the 1950s and 1960s, includes short mermaid-style skirts and sleeveless dresses that show off a woman’s curves.

Santana’s 2014 spring-summer collection also features pants, jackets and sweaters.

Kahlo “is an icon who has influenced thousands of women, of men, of artists,” Santana said. “And being Mexican, she connects with me.”